Stave steaming and drying apparatus.



H. F. MARTE'N, H. GHAHN & J. C. ANDRESEN.

STAVE STEAMING AND DRYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.8. 1917. 1,250,480.

Patented Dec. 18, 19W.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

m. Il

Ill

WITNESS; MEQ?. M

ATTORNEYS.

H. F. MARIEN, H. GRAHN 6L I. C. ANDRESEN.

STAVE SIEAMING AND DRYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUAGB. 1917.

Patented Dee. 18, A1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENToRs. H :I: v H 11,@

J. C. v @M/Lvy 7 n" FKA.; ATTORNEYS TINA e WITNESS:- we@ UNiTE-D lSTA VVcity and coimty of San of California, have invented certain new ,and

rEs PATENT l HENRY E. MAETEN, HENRY. GEAN, VANLD kJiinius, c. yArmREsEN, y @moeurs H oE siiN FRANCISCO,

i e srrAvEs'rEAiiiNe AND DRYING luminarias.

To all'whom t may concern.' Y

Bev itknown that we, HENRY F. MARTEN, HENRY GRAHN, and JULiUs C. ANDREsEN, citizensiof theUnited States, residing at the l lized in the formation of ibarrels', .casks, etc.,

"ture, and for holding and the object thereof is to provideian 'apv paratus for y efficiently: and economically forming the staves to the required curvathe same-'so set for the use thereof in the subsequent operation o-f .forming barrels, .and vthswithout liability of the staves breaking or cracking. during the operation vof applying theretaining hoop i during the .assembling thereof'for the formation of'thebarrel. Y

Heretofore, it has been customaryto steam the staves and also dipfthem .inwater to 'ob` tain the requisite pliability of the wood, the

held within a suitable form and in an initiated assembled position; after ther-steaming the staves are drawn'together in operation, order to place hoops thereonand it is the Vsudden strain to whichvthey are subjected during this drawing vtogether land-.zbending of the 4steamed staves whichtends to break:

or crack the same.

Under the present inventiomthe idea involved is to placethe staves looselyheld to a suitable curved former,

' convey the same'into asteaming apparatus,

of travel through the said,V

' steaming apparatus,

steaming of the andas thus held,

the duration being so'timed and of asuicient length of time as tocause perfect wooden staves for v obtainf ,ingthe requisite pliability thereof for bend` ing purposes. passed through thesteaming apparatus they are subjected at each endl thereof progressivelyv during; the course of1t'ravel;to the Jac- Francisco and State drier, theV staves vrare set As the staves are successively i ySpeccation of Letters*Patent.` j A'Dec,l 18,4' 191*7 Appiicatinaieaaugust 8,1191?.v f Seriana-185,193,

Ition means which will graduallyA but positively depress .the. outer end portions thereof to the surface of ythe form, thus gradually.

bendingkor causing thesame to assume the'.y

,shape ofthe form to which they-,are held,

and as depressed relative tothe form, means areautomatically throwninto action to positively hold thel formed staves in their altered staves reach the outlet or discharge. opening ofthe steaming apparatus they are bent Vto approximately conform to the curvatureV of 4the vform ongwhich-they rest, which is the Vinto whichthe staves are f.

the formation of barrels Y f f paratus orratherthe lsteaming;section of the lofrpbent` position, yAso-that by they time the steaming and-formingapparatus, theyare moved or carried `into a drying chamber or drier,and .during the course of travel thereithrough the woodenstavesare thoroughly.

dried, so that when carried from within the to the. curvature of.,

Vthe/form and on thel release from thev formV l Y arein set condition fer assembling purposes staves during the 'steaming l operation ebeing for the construction of barrels therefrom.

Inits preferred' embodiment,- the appara- .tus is entirely automatic after the` p lacingof f lthe staves on the forms,

:.into'v the drying machine or dryingboX and `as carried from said box they. are lautomatically released lto ypermit the removal there.

so that :when .the i fstaves pass through .the steaming apparatus yfrom by: an .operator positioned for such v purposes. Y l 1 f. Inorder to comprehend thev invention reference should-be had tothe accompanying applied i Ving chamber, andfrom said .steaming f chamside eleva-tion Aof theV .i

-riersffor conveying Vthe forms with the 'staves Y thereto'into'and through the steam.l

the ends of the st-aves as moved through the steaming chamber-,the lock devices for holding the staves in locked depressed position and the supports for the forms during course of travel through the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a broken part sectional View of one of the forms disclosing' an enlarged detail of the lock means for holding the ends of the staves in depressed position as carried through the steaming chamber.

Fig. 4 is anfenla-rged detail sectional View taken on the irregular line 4-4 Fig. 3 of the drawings and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

In the drawings the numeral 1 is used to designate the steaming chamber of the apparatus and 2 the drying chamber thereof, there being disclosed a water seal 3 interposed between the outlet of the steaming chamber and the inlet of the drying chamber. lVithin the steaming mounted in vertical planes,` the sprocket wheels 8, which are mounted on the crossshafts 4, and over which travel the endless chains 5. These chains or carriers are provided at intervals throughout their length with inwardly projecting flights or eXtensions 6, towhich are bolted, or otherwise secured the ends 7 of the stave forms 9; the upper surface or section 9 of each form being curved or shaped for the curvature to be given the held stave 10; the ends of which staves are fitted wit-hin the open keepers 11, Y

secured to the upper blocks 12. The stem gage pieces 12 work openings, bores or, slots 13 formed in the end portion of the forms 9 and are movable freely therein, being held at their lower ends from dropping or falling from within the bores, openings or slots 13 when in an inend of the depressible 12 of the lblocksl or 14 fitted within and projecting laterally bevond the slotted mally in a raised position by means of the staves 10, which staves rest on the highest portion of the curved section 9 of the forms 9, consequently, the gage pieces or blocks 12 when the ends of the staves are fitted therein are held upwardly or in the position illustra-ted in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

To the under-face of the forms `9 and at 'each end portion thereof is mounted for free swinging movement, a lock cam 15,

chamber is .v

through the verticall portion 15 of the stems 12. The gage pieces or blocks 12 are held norjecting trunnions 16, which said trunnion's work within bearing boxes 16 bolted to the' underface of the forms 9 and at each end portion thereof. The cam casting 15 is bifurcated so as to straddle the stem portion 4'12 of the 0awe blocks 12 and the inner edOfc b b 3 D or face 17 of each portion 17 of the bifur cated cam 15 Yengage withthe wedge blocksof serrations 18, forming a yseries of notchedl portions or shoulders which engage progressivelywith theupper edge of the wedge Vpieces or wedge blocks 14, on the gage blocks' 12 being depressed into a position which will allow or permit of the wedge shaped cam kmoving inwardly to place one of its shoulders 18 into engagement with the upper surl placed by anoperator on to the outer upper the ends the open run portion of the traveling carrier, of the staves being fitted 4within keepers 11, with the central portion thereof resting on the uppermost curved surface of' the section 9' of the form 9. As thus held, the` staves are carried by the movement of the endless carriers over the lower sprocket wheels 3 into `the steaming chamber through the inletopening a., andare carried up-A wardly within the said steaming chamber and over the upper spaced sprocket wheels 3', and during the travel between the said upperspaced sprocket wheels 3 the keepers 11 are moved .beneath the pressure rolls 19 mounted on the cross-shaft 20, a ldownward pressure ybeingy thus exerted on the said keepers to depress the blocks 12 such a distance as will permit of the weighted swing- L ing cams 15 to move inwardly until the first knotch or shoulder of the series of notches or shoulders 18 thereof will move over the up- .1 per edge of the wedgeblocks 14,' the ends of verted position by means of the wedge pieces the staves being depressed with the downward movement of the gage blocks 12. As 'd of compressing rollers 19,-the staves will have been slightlyebent or curved to a given distance and held in this position Vby, the

locked engagement of the cam 15 with the wedges 14, and as thus held they are carried by the movement of the endless traveling carriers until the keepers lljare brought into contact with the second set of pressure rollers 19, locatedin a'lower plane from that of the first mentioned compressing rollers, and

as carriedv beneath, said compressing rollers fthe-keepers 111 are 'forceddownwardly a g-reat'er distance, causing the wedges 111 of thegage blocks-12' to move adistance asy to permit `vthe second notched or'step portion `1S of the cam 15 to swingv downwardly such over the upper edge thereof, and which enthe wedges let hold thekeepers 11 in fbrouglit into contact with the-third or lowisv YVermo'stl set ofsaidf' compression lrollers 19.

fAs moved beneath thesecompression roll- ,ers, the f keepers 11 are again" depressed a given distance,

so las to cause the downward movement `of the gage blocks`12 to position the upper edge of the wedges 14 to such a point as will permit-of the third notch or-A shouldered portion of the' series of notches or shoulders 1S of the cam-15 to swing-inwardly over the upperA edge-of saidwedges.- `It will thus be noted riers move through the steaming chamber'or -boX 1, the stavesare progressively depressed to gradually conform` to vform section 9` ofthe form that as the endless car- 9, so that by the "'time'they are carried beneath the lowermost in Contact with the-section 9 set of compressing rollers 19,

' kapproximately throughoutv the .length there- ,permit ofl the l toplace the wood of. It

1 is of such a lduration as to steam acting on y the staves 10 steaming box dition, soA that the saine readily gives or Y bends under the pressure of the various 40l leually. shapedito the curvature ofthe formed'.V Vsection 9. of the-form 9, sudden strains-on to fthe staves being thus avoided [and the breakfing or cracking thereof prevented.. during v barrel assembling. Y gingiof -the'endless' the steaming rollers-19 placed thereon andjtherebyl grad- To provide against 'saging rolls 21 which are mounted on the cross shatsQQ, Figs. `1 and?! of the drawings. Y These rolls 21 are arranged within the steam chamber 1 so-as to lie beneath Vthe endless v v carriers at points adjacent the present roll. A

ersf19, thus supporting'the foi-m 9 Vat such 5 portion of the travelof the carriersandpre.-

venting'the downward give thereof on the pressure of the rollers 19 4being exerted on Y the I l l `lVhile the term carriers has been vemconined staves.

ployed to `designate :the endless traveling :members 15, it will members conjunction with the i transverse be understood that these :whatever I the form the shape of v the thefstaves are Aof the form 9 will be vunderstood that thetime of travel of the endless carrier through thev in a-thorough pliablecon- Y "bearing keepers 11 to'depress the ends of thev -f'orms 9 united thereto, constitute the endless i traveling vconveyer and hereinafter v'the term( endless carrier will be employed tov designate the means for moving-the staveseto be steamed'. throughout the steaming chamber, thereof may be. The endless carrier as-itleaves the lowermost set of sprocket rolls 3', passes from within the steaming boxt through through the outlet opening '24 of SuchboxJ and into and through theinlet-opening @ti-'of the dryingchamber 2, and travels through the said chamber over Athe sprockets 3" arrranged-therein to give a circuitous path of The duration v travel v to the Vendlesscarrier.

of travel 'of the endless carrierV througlrtlie jdrying chamber 2=is Vsufficientforzthe heatfof the chamber to act `formed staves to thoroughly dry the saine y on the steamed and forithe setting Vthereof to the curvature of the'form section 9 of the forms`9'.` The end- S less vcarrier with the 'dry andset staves-therefon movesfrom within the 'f dryingfchamber 'throughthev outl' Vafter lea-ving` said chamber the dried andsetstaves 'are carried by the endless'carrier towardthe feed end of the apparatus.y Duringithe travel ofthe endless carrier toward the feed end of the apparatus, the keepers 11-and the cams 15 stand in areve'rsedposition kto that .in which they were'. placed when the water l'seal 3 t opening 26 tliereof'an'd passedrbeneath Vthe compressing pressure rollers 19 situatedfwithin thesteamingchamber, and las'carr-ied toward theafeedend of the machine the :keepers move over 'two' spaced rollers 27 mounted Von the cross-sliaft 27 suspended in portion of the swinging camfl," with the Arethe gage blocksp12 and thekeepers 11, removing .theiformed stave Yfr om contact with moved by By means of the suitable' adjustable bolts bearings or brackets 28, and .the saidrollers27 acting successively-on the J said keepers 11-1forcethe same upwardly and V:moveithe wedgeslil` from` off thev notched-- sultthat the weight'yof the l.camyswings the yFsame' downwardly free yof* the said wedges r Y :14;when'the1weight ofthe forms and staves 1 vwill .cause the free downward 'movement 'of carrieras moved through l chamber by the sprocket wheels T3', there-is .interposed at intervals through- 1 out the'length of travel, thejspaced support- 'the bearings 29' for'the cross-shafts QOcai-rying the forining-chamber Fig. 2 of the drawings, may be adjusted verticallyy tovary the posibeneath.

compressing rollers 19 and which l boxes are vlocated outside ofthe 20 Y tion of' he'compressing rollers 19 relative'to l l'the'travel of theendl'ess carrienthroughjthe f the sprocket wheels The endless carrier is driven by any suit-- able mechanism not shown, and the speed of travel is so proportioned as to subject each stave passing through the steaming chamber and through the drying chamber to at least an exposure of fifteen minutes to the action of the steam withinthe steaming chamber and to the heat within the drying chamber, and the capacity of the said chambers for the staves to be steamed and dried is such, that approximately 850 staves are moving within the said steaming chamber for steaming purposes at one time.

As a steamed and set stave reaches the operator positioned at the feed station of the apparatus, the same is'removed and a stave to be steamed and dried inserted in place thereof, consequently, there is a continuous line of staves moving into the apparatus to replace the ones removed from the endless carrier.

The apparatus is simplein construction and positive. in its operation and accomplishes thework of steaming, bending and the setting of the'staves without dangeror liability of the breaking ororacking thereof, which is an essential factor relative to the assembling' of the same for the manufacture of barrels therefrom.

It will be understood that any well known system of admitting steam to the interior of the steaming chamber may be employed, and for such reason no illustration of steam supply pipes has been made, such being left optional with the constructorl of the a ratus. Equally so, any suitable form of drive connections ymay be employed for transmitting rotation to the shafts carrying for the carrier chains, it not being necessary to illustrate the same in the drawings.

The apparatus has been described andy illustrated in its preferred embodiment, but it is obvious that various changes may be made in the construction of the. detailed working parts and this, without creating a departure from invention, which it is desired to claim as broadly as the state Yof the invention will permit. Y

Having thus described our invention what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

An apparatus for the steaming of wooden staves, the same comprising a. steaming chamber, an endless carrier movable into, through and out of said chamber in a circuitous path of travel, spaced stave forms carried thereby, means for holding the stave to be steamed to said forms, spaced devices within the chamber with which said staves are successively forced into contact at intermediate intervals during the movement of said carrier for progressively at intermittent a successive depressing the nature and spirit of the intervals depressing the ends of the held 6 staves to conform to the shape of the stave forms during the travel thereof withinthe steaming chamber, means associated Y with each form for holding the staves locked in depressed position while moved from one to 7 device, and releasing means situated outside of said steaming chamber for successively releasing thelock means for the stave during the travel thereof from the outlet of the steaming chamber 7 toward the inlet opening thereof.

2. An apparatus for the described purpose, the same comprising a steaming chamber and an associated drying chamber, each v provided with an inlet and an outlet open- 8 ing, an endless carrier movable successively into, through and out of said chamber in a circuitous path of travel, spaced stave forms secured to and carried by the endless car.- rier, means associated with each form for securing a stave thereto, pressive devices within the steaming chamber and at spaced intervals along the travel of the carrier for progressively depressing at intermittent in- 1 tervals the stave to conform'to the stave formers during travel thereof through said chamber, devices associated with the stave securing means for holding same lockedA in depressed position while being conveyed between said pressive devices, and means for 9 .releasing said lock devices during travel of the endless carrier` from the outlet of the drying Vchamber toward the inlet of the steaming chamber. v Y

3. An apparatus for the described purpose, the same comprising a steaming chamber, of means for gradually advancing stave forms through said chamber, securing means associated with each form for holding a stave thereto, pressive means positioned at spaced intervals within the steamingchamber for progressively depressing at intermittent intervals the stavesrelative to the shape of the yforms during the travel Vthereof through the said chamber,and devicesassociated with the'stave securing means for holding the same locked in depressed positions while moved to successivepressive devices. t. An apparatus for the described purpose, the same comprising a steaming chamber, of means for advancing staveforms throughout in spaced relation, stave keepers associated with the outer end portion of the stave forms for the retention of sta-ves to be steamed thereon, pressure means positioned at spaced intervals within the steaming chamberin the path of travel ofthe stave advancing means for progressively depressing the stave keepers at intermittent intervals during the advancing movement of the stave forms through the said chamber, and devices for holding the stave keepers sagesse lckedinadepressed pestienavhlermeredte Y successive pressive means.` 1.,

' 5. Anapparatus' for' thedescribed pur pose, the same comprising'a steaming chamber, ,Oifameans :for @dressing Steve forms throughout in spaced relation, stairs .keepers associated withv theguterr endportion of the stave forms for theretention ofstaves to be steamed thereon, pressure means at intervals; within ,the steaming;rohamherafors progressively depressing at intermittent intervals during the advancing movement of the stave vforms through the said chamber, devices for holding the stave keepers locked in depressed position, a drying chamber associated with the'steaming chamber, p forms with the steamed staves locked thereto through the drying chamber, and devices for releasing the dried staves from the stave forms.

6. An apparatus for the described purpose, the same comprising a lsteaming chamber, a-series of stave forms, means for ,continuously advancing said forms through the steaming chamber in spaced relation, depressible lock devices for holding staves to said forms, and means at spaced intervals within the Vsteaming chamber for progressively depressing rthe stave at intermittent intervals relative to the forms as continuously moved through said chamber.

7. An apparatus for the described purpose, the same comprising a steaming cham ber, a series of stave forms, depressible devices for holding staves to be steamed to said forms, mechanism with staves applied thereto in spaced relation through the steaming chamber, and fixed means arranged at intervals within the said chamber throughout the length of the advancing means for progressively depressing the stave holding devices at intermittent intervals relative to the forms during the continuous movement thereof through the steaming chamber whereby the staves are gradually curved to conform to the shape gf the forms.

8. An apparatus for the described purpose, the same comprising a drying chamber associated therewith, a series of stave forms, meansfor moving the said forms successively in spaced lrelation through the said steaming and drying chambers, depressible devices associated with each form for engaging only the opposite ends of ka stave for holding the same thereto, and means within the steaming chamber for progressively depressing the stave holding devices to gradually bend the.V same at successive intervals during its travel through the steaming chamber to conform to the shape of the stave' forms through the said steaming chamber.

means for advancing the stave for advancing the formssteaming chamber, a

during the travel thereof` talaesapraratusforfthe@lesaubaines-J Y rose-the ombnationwth-a-stsamnsshask r o f taveiformshsldaasnaees f berfofaserleso.

relation. meshamsmar advaansthe same y through-the --Steamns .haniben dpressble means. assiatfl .with `eide stavefefrmf holding -a stava-to` be Vices. Operated at ItQ-Vals depressing the i' successivel ystave holding means, r. during-the movement thr-Qilsh the the stave keepers steaming chamber for gradually bending the staves to conform to the curvature of the stave forms during the movement thereof through the steaming chamber, and lock means associated with the stave holding means for the holding of the Asame in depressed position. Y

10. An apparatus for the describedl pur? pose, the same comprising a steaming chamber, mechanism for moving forms with staves applied thereto through said steaming chamber in spaced relation, spaced pressure devices within said chamber for acting successively to progressively bend the staves to gradually conform at intermittent inter-l vals to the shape of the stave forms during the travel thereof through said chamber, and means associated Withsaid forms for hold-l ing the staves in position relative thereto.l

11. The combination with a f steaming chamber of an endless carrier having united thereto a series of spaced stave forms,de

the steaming chamber to gradually bend,

staves to conform to stave forms, and a swinging Vlock cam associated with each of the depressible means for engaging therewith to hold the same Vin any of the depressed positions.- t

12. The combinationl with a steaming chamber of an endlessvcarrier having united thereto a series of spaced stave forms, depressible means passing through the opposite ends of saidforms for kholding staves thereto, each form and engageable with the depress-V ible means extended therethrough for the holding of `the same in depressed position during the movement through the steaming chamber.

13. An apparatus for the described purand devices carried on the rear of l the curvature of the A of the stave forms pose, the same comprising a steaming cham-k ber, a drying chamber associated therewith, mechanism for successively advancing in spaced relation stave forms with staves applied thereto through the steaming chamber, compressing means positioned at intervals throughout the path of travel of the advanc-V ing means and the drying chamber 'for bending the Steves at intervals to gradually connames to this specification in the presence of foi-m to the lcuvature of the stave forms tvvo subsoribin1 gI Witnesses.r

during movement through said chambenand ENRY F. MARTEN. v devices associated With each stave form foly HENRY GRAHN. 5 holding the Steves in any adjusted or `bent JULIUS C. ANDRESEN. i 4. position relative to the forms While passing Witnesseszi between se'idioompressing means. JAS. W. DOHERZIY;Y In testimony whereof We have signed oui` E. L. KEoHoNE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve centsv each by addressing the "Commissioner vof Patents, j' 5 Washington, D. C. Y 

